Perfect Peridot

August. It's bright, it's beautiful, and that goes for its birthstone as well as the supposed summer weather!

The Peridot gemstone can range in colour from brown-green to yellowish green to a pure, bright green. Yellowish green is the most common peridot colour seen in jewellery.

You could say Peridot is ‘out of this world’, as it has been found in meteorites, remnants of our solar system’s birth from some 4.5 billion years ago. In 2005, Peridot was found in comet dust brought back from the Stardust robotic space probe.

Historically, Peridot has always been associated with light. The Egyptians called it the ‘gem of the sun’ and many believed it protected its owner from the ‘terrors of the night’, especially when it was set in gold.

While it is sometimes mistaken for Emerald, what makes a Peridot extra special is its double refraction. When you look closely through the gem, you can see two of each pavilion facet.

There were more celebrations to be had in the Royal Household this week as it was announced that Princess Eugenie (the sixth grandchild of Queen Elizabeth II) was to marry her long-term boyfriend, Jack Brooksbank.